7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel

This article is about 2023 attacks on Israel from Gaza. For the war initiated by the attack, see Israel–Hamas war.
"7 October attacks" redirects here. For 6 October 1973 Egyptian attack on Israeli forces, see Operation Badr (1973).

7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel
Part of the Israel–Hamas war

Satellite view of fires in the Gaza Envelope on 7 October 2023[6]
Date7–8 October 2023[1]
Location
Gaza Envelope, Southern District, Israel
Result

Israeli defensive failure[7]

Belligerents
 Hamas[1]
Allied political factions:
  Israel[1]
Commanders and leaders
Units involved

Palestinian Joint Operations Room

Per Israel:
Hamas Al-Nukhba Force

 Israel Defense Forces

Strength

Per Israel:

  • ~6,000 entered Israel (3,800 Nukhba fighters, 2,200 civilians and other fighters)[16]
  • 1,000 rocket launch crews inside Gaza[16]

Israel Defense Forces

Casualties and losses
  • 1,609 militants killed[17] (per Israel)
  • ~200 militants captured[b]
    		•
  • 1,180 killed[19][c][d]
  • 3,400 civilians and soldiers wounded[22]
  • 251 civilians and soldiers taken captive[23] (65 later died or were confirmed dead)[24]

    • On 7 October 2023, Hamas and several other Palestinian nationalist militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel, the first invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The attack coincided with the Jewish religious holiday Simchat Torah. Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups named the attacks Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,[g][1] while in Israel they are referred to as Black Sabbath[h][25] or the Simchat Torah Massacre,[i][26] and internationally as the 7 October attacks.[27][28][29] The attacks initiated the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.

    The attacks began early on 7 October with a barrage of at least 4,300 rockets launched into Israel[30][31][32] and vehicle-transported and powered paraglider incursions into Israel.[33][34] Hamas fighters breached the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking military bases and massacring civilians in 21 communities, including Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim. According to an IDF report that revised the estimate on the number of attackers, 6,000 Gazans breached the border in 119 locations into Israel, including 3,800 from the "elite Nukhba forces" and 2,200 civilians and other militants.[35][30][31] Additionally, the IDF report estimated 1,000 Gazans fired rockets from the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of participants on Hamas's side to 7,000.[35][30][31]

    In total, 1,139 people were killed:[j] 695 Israeli civilians (including 38 children),[40] 71 foreign nationals, and 373 members of the security forces.[k][41] 364 civilians were killed and many more wounded while attending the Nova music festival.[42][43] At least 14 Israeli civilians were killed by the IDF's use of the Hannibal Directive.[44] About 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip, alive or dead, and including 30 children, with the stated goal to force Israel to exchange them for imprisoned Palestinians, including women and children.[32][45][46] Dozens of cases of rape and sexual assault reportedly occurred, but Hamas officials denied the involvement of their fighters.[47]

    The governments of 44 countries denounced the attack and described it as terrorism, while some Arab and Muslim-majority countries blamed Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories as the root cause of the attack.[48][49][50] Hamas said its attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, rising Israeli settler violence, and recent escalations.[51][52][53] The day was labeled the bloodiest in Israel's history and the "deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust" by many figures and media outlets in the West, including US president Joe Biden.[54][55][56] Some have called the attack a genocidal massacre against Israelis.[57][58][59]

    1. ^ a b c d From the United Nations:
      • United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (9 October 2023). "Fact Sheet: Israel and Palestine Conflict (9 October 2023)" (Press release). ReliefWeb. United Nations (UN). Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023. On Saturday, 7 October — a Jewish sabbath day, the end of the weeklong Jewish festival of Sukkot, and a day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War — Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched Operation al-Aqsa Flood, a coordinated assault consisting of land and air attacks into multiple border areas of Israel.
      • United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (7 October 2023). "UNRWA Situation Report #1 on the Situation in the Gaza Strip" (Situation Report). United Nations. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023. At 06:30 on the morning of 7 October 2023, Hamas launched "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" with more than 5,000 rockets reportedly fired towards Israel from multiple locations in Gaza, as well as ground operation into Israel.
      • United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (20 October 2023). "Fact Sheet: Israel and Palestine Conflict (19 October 2023)" (Press release). ReliefWeb. United Nations. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023. On Saturday, 7 October...Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched Operation al-Aqsa Flood, a coordinated assault consisting of land and air attacks into multiple border areas of Israel.
    2. ^ a b c d e f g Guy Van Vlierden (14 October 2023). "HLN ONDERZOEK. Van jihadisten tot communisten: zeker 10 groeperingen deden mee met actie Palestijnse terroristen (HLN RESEARCH. From jihadists to communists: at least 10 groups participated in Palestinian terrorist action)". Het Laatste Nieuws. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023.
    3. ^ "الجبهة الشعبية: قرار الإدارة الأمريكية بتوفير الدعم للكيان هدفه تطويق النتائج الاستراتيجية لمعركة طوفان الأقصى" [Popular Front: The US Administration's Decision to Provide Support to the Entity [Israel] Aims to Contain the Strategic Outcomes of the Battle of the Al-Aqsa Flood]. alahednews.com.lb (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
    4. ^ "خلال بيان لها قبل قليل.. كتائب المقاومة الوطنية (قوات الشهيد عمر القاسم) الجناح العسكري للجبهة الديمقراطية". Alhourriah. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
    5. ^ a b الانترنت, الحرية-مجلة التقدميين العرب على. "khilal bayan laha qabl qalilin.. katayib almuqawamat alwatania (quaat alshahid eumar alqasuma) aljanah aleaskarii liljabhat aldiymuqratia" خلال بيان لها قبل قليل.. كتائب المقاومة الوطنية (قوات الشهيد عمر القاسم) الجناح العسكري للجبهة الديمقراطية [During a statement a short while ago...the National Resistance Brigades (Forces of the Martyr Omar Al-Qasim), the military wing of the Democratic Front] (in Arabic). مجلة التقدميين العرب على الانترنت. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
    6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ynet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    7. ^ Morris, Loveday; Suliman, Adela (11 July 2024). "Israeli military says it failed to protect Gaza border town on Oct. 7". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
    8. ^ "Palestinian Al Quds Brigades claim responsibility for attack at Lebanon-Israel border". Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
    9. ^ "Hamide Rencüs: İsrail ilk defa Gazze sınırındaki kontrolü kaybetmiş durumda" [Hamide Rencüs: Israel has lost control over the Gaza border for the first time]. bianet.org (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
    10. ^ Frantzman, Seth J. (17 October 2023). "Overwhelmed: The IDF's first hours fighting the terror waves on Oct 7". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023. Golani soldiers from the 51st and 13th battalions fought along 30km of the border at numerous points and took heavy casualties between October 7 and 9.
    11. ^ Cite error: The named reference kerem was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    12. ^ a b "New footage shows harbor security unit foiling Hamas naval infiltration on October 7". The Times of Israel. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
    13. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference shinbet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    14. ^ Duro, Israel (11 October 2023). "Heroes of Israel: Armed members of several kibbutzim managed to fight off terrorists". VOZ. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
    15. ^ Ghert-Zand, Enee. "Young dad of 6 absorbed blast to protect family in attack on Kerem Shalom". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
    16. ^ a b Report: New IDF assessment shows some 6,000 Gazans invaded Israel on Oct. 7 Archived 20 September 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Times of Israel, posted & retrieved 31 August 2024.
    17. ^ a b c "הבקשה של פיקוד הדרום בלילה שלפני הטבח - והסירוב | פרסום ראשון". 26 February 2024. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
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    19. ^ "Israel's Dead: The Names of Those Killed in Hamas Attacks, Massacres and the Israel-Hamas War". Haaretz. 25 July 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024. Approximately 1,200 Israelis, civilians and soldiers were killed in their homes, communities and in confronting Hamas terrorists. Here are the officially confirmed names of Israel's dead in the atrocities of October 7 and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war ... This list of 1618 names will be continuously updated with names that have been cleared for publication.
    20. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference social security data was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    21. ^ Zitun, Yoav; Tzuri, Matan (6 August 2024). "IDF confirms Bilha Yinon, listed as missing, was murdered on October 7". Ynet. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
    22. ^ Cite error: The named reference cas2,2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    23. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (2 November 2023). "IDF says it has notified families of 242 hostages being held in Gaza". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
    24. ^ Cite error: The named reference missing was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    25. ^ Waghorn, Dominic (23 October 2023). "This is a dangerous moment in Israel-Hamas war – and the rest of the world is holding its breath". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
    26. ^ Herzl, Tova (20 October 2023). "אל תשתמשו במילה "שואה" בקשר לטבח". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
    27. ^ "Biden Energy Adviser to Discuss Lebanon Border Issues on Israel Trip". Asharq Al-Awsat. 20 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023. In the months before the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants who run the Gaza Strip, Hochstein said the United States was exploring the possibility of resolving the longstanding border dispute between Lebanon and Israel.
    28. ^ "Hamas fighter says he is 'proud' of the October 7 attack on Israel and vows to keep fighting". Sky News. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
    29. ^ Jason Burke (9 November 2023). "A deadly cascade: how secret Hamas attack orders were passed down at last minute". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023. Analysts said other objectives of the 7 October attacks probably included halting efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, further undermining the Palestinian Authority, distracting from Hamas's failure to deliver services or break the blockade of Gaza, and provoking a violent reaction from Israel that would mobilise its own supporters in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere.
    30. ^ a b c "Probe reveals 6,000 Gazans infiltrated Israel during October 7 massacre - report". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 31 August 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
    31. ^ a b c "Report: New IDF assessment shows some 6,000 Gazans invaded Israel on Oct. 7 | The Times of Israel". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
    32. ^ a b "Hamas says it has enough Israeli captives to free all Palestinian prisoners". Al-Jazeera. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
    33. ^ Kubovich, Yaniv (17 October 2023). "The First Hours of the Israel-Hamas War: What Actually Took Place?". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    34. ^ "Around 1,000 dead in Israel-Hamas war, as Lebanon's Hezbollah also launches strikes". South China Morning Post. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
    35. ^ a b "Doubling previous numbers, report says 6,000 Gazans – including 3,800 trained Hamas terrorists – broke into Israel on Oct. 7". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
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    40. ^ "38 children were killed, 20 orphaned on Oct. 7: 'The state did not pass the test of protecting them'". The Times of Israel. 3 March 2024. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
    41. ^ "Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths". France 24. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
    42. ^ "Israel revises death toll from Oct. 7 Hamas assault, dropping it from 1,400 to 1,200". Times of Israel. 11 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023.
    43. ^ "Israel revises Hamas attack death toll to 'around 1,200'". Reuters. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023.
    44. ^ Cite error: The named reference :20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    45. ^ Yonah, Jeremy (19 October 2023). "IDF working on rescue ops for over 200 Israeli hostages in Gaza". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
    46. ^ McKernan, Bethan (7 October 2023). "Hamas launches surprise attack on Israel as Palestinian gunmen reported in south". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
    47. ^
    48. ^ Waldo, Cleary; Epstein, Gabriel; Hilbush, Sydney (11 October 2023). "International Reactions to the Hamas Attack on Israel". The Washington Institute. PolicyWatch 3793. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
    49. ^ Michaelson, Ruth (7 October 2023). "Condemnation and calls for restraint after Hamas attack on Israel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023. International leaders condemned an unprecedented incursion by Palestinian militants into southern Israel, while governments across the Middle East called for restraint after an attack that shook the Israeli security establishment. [...] The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, said his organisation would send support to Israel. 'Over the coming days the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism,' he said.
    50. ^ "World reaction to surprise attack by Palestinian Hamas on Israel". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
    51. ^ "Fears of a ground invasion of Gaza grow as Israel vows 'mighty vengeance'". Al Jazeera. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
    52. ^ McKernan, Bethan; Michaelson, Ruth; Graham-Harrison, Emma; Kierszenbaum, Quique; Balousha, Hazem; Taha, Sufian; Sherwood, Harriet; Beaumont, Peter (14 October 2023). "Seven days of terror that shook the world and changed the Middle East". The Observer. Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
    53. ^ Pacchiani, Luca (7 October 2023). "Hamas deputy chief anticipates hostages will be swapped for Palestinian prisoners". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    54. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    55. ^ "Hamas's attack was the bloodiest in Israel's history". The Economist. 12 October 2023. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023. The most searing historical comparison predates Israel's founding. Not all of Hamas's victims were Israeli, and not all of the Israeli dead were Jewish. But under reasonable assumptions about the ethnic make-up of those killed in this and previous attacks, the last time before October 7th that this many Jews were murdered on a single day was during the Holocaust.
    56. ^ "Hamas attack 'deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust', says Biden, as Israeli jets pound Gaza". The Guardian. 12 October 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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